Emu Plains railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emu Plains
Location	Station Street, Emu Plains Australia
Coordinates	33°44′44″S 150°40′20″E / 33.745595°S 150.67212°E / -33.745595; 150.67212
Elevation	28 metres (92 ft) AHD
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	Sydney Trains
Line(s)	Main Western
Distance	57.44 kilometres (35.69 mi) from Central
Platforms	2 side
Tracks	2
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	EPS
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	18 August 1868
Rebuilt	1884
Electrified	Yes
Traffic
Passengers (2018)	3,340 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Services
Preceding station Sydney Trains Following station Terminus North Shore & Western Line Weekdays only Penrith toward Berowra Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station Lapstone toward Lithgow Blue Mountains Line Penrith toward Central
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Emu Plains Railway Station group
Type	State heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	1136
Type	Railway Platform/ Station
Category	Transport - Rail
Builders	M. Reed et. al.

Emu Plains railway station is a very old and important train station in Emu Plains, a suburb in western Sydney, Australia. It's located on the Main Western line. The station was designed by the New South Wales Government Railways and built between 1884 and 1907. It's also known as the Emu Plains Railway Station group.

This station is considered a special historical site and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999. Today, Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink services use the station.

History

Emu Plains

The area now known as Emu Plains was first called Emu. It got its new name, Emu Plains, in 1882. This area was an important stop on the Great Western Road. This road went from Sydney, over the Blue Mountains, all the way to Bathurst.

The name Emu Plains might have come from people seeing emus on the flat lands near the river in the late 1700s. Or it might have been named by Captain Watkin Tench, an early explorer. The name Emu Plains started being used around 1814. In 1819, Governor Macquarie set up a government farm here. For 13 years, people worked on the farm, growing crops like wheat and corn. The farm closed in 1832, and the land was sold.

Crossing the Nepean River was a big challenge. People first used a shallow part of the river or a ferry. Many floods made it hard to build a bridge. Finally, the Victoria Bridge was built. It was used for both roads and trains. In 1907, a new railway bridge opened, and the Victoria Bridge became only for road traffic.

Emu Plains Railway Station

The first train line, the Main Western Rail Line, opened in 1867. The section from Penrith West was made into two tracks in 1907. This happened when the new double-track bridge over the Nepean River opened.

The Emu Plains Railway Station first opened on August 18, 1868. It was on the south side of the Bathurst Road. This first station was a two-story building, with the station master's home upstairs. It is one of the oldest train stations in Australia! It was built in a style called Victorian Gothic Revival. It's one of only three stations in Sydney that still shows how railway staff used to live in the same building as the station. It's also the only two-story example of this kind of station in Sydney.

In 1882, the NSW Government Railways decided to move the station. They built the current two-story building in 1884. This new building also had both station offices and the Station Master's home. A telegraph office was added a year later. The train line from Penrith became electric in 1956.

A second platform was added in 1907. The original waiting shed on this platform was replaced in 1978. There's also a steel shelter on the second platform from around 1994. An overhead bridge built in 1990 connects the two platforms. Emu Plains is the end of the line for many Sydney Trains services.

Description

Landscape features

Around the station, you can see rows of old trees. These trees might have been planted in the early 1900s. They add to the beauty of the area. Some of these trees include jacarandas, camphor laurels, and river oaks.

Buildings

• Station Building & Residence - Platform 2, type 1 (built in 1884)
• Ticket Machine Shelter - Platform 1 (built around 2008)

Structures

• 2 x platforms, made of brick and concrete (built in 1884 & 1907)
• Footbridge, made of concrete (built in 1990)

Station building and residence (1884)

The Emu Plains station building looks like a castle! It's built in a style called Victorian Gothic Revival. It has the station office on the ground floor and the Station Master's home upstairs. It's made of brick with stone details. From the train platforms, it looks like two stories. From the street, it looks like three stories.

It has a steep roof with pointed sections called gables. There are two old-fashioned chimneys. The building also has stone decorations and a fancy round vent on the front. A covered walkway, called a verandah, runs along the platform side. It's held up by decorative metal poles. On the eastern side, there's a cool window section that sticks out.

The side of the building facing the platform still has its original windows and doors. Some of these have been changed. For example, a window was turned into a ticket window. The back of the building, facing the street, also shows its original windows and doors. Some of these have been filled in or changed into smaller windows.

The Station Master's home upstairs is reached by a concrete staircase from the back. Inside, the building mostly keeps its original room layout. The station offices have been updated, but they still have some old features like wooden ceilings. The Station Master's home has been worked on, and many of its original parts were removed. But you can still see the old structure, like brick walls and fireplaces. A wooden staircase leads to the upper floor.

Ticket machine shelter (circa 2008)

There's a brick shelter with a metal roof on Platform 1. It looks a bit like the main station building. This shelter protects the ticket machine. It has an open side facing the platform with a metal awning.

Platforms 1 & 2 (1884 & 1907)

Both platforms are next to the road. They have brick on the bottom and concrete on the top. This shows that the platform levels were raised over time. The top of the platforms is covered with asphalt. Platform 1 was built in 1907 when the train line was doubled. There's an older steel shelter on Platform 2 from around 1994. A new roof is being built over Platform 1. The platforms also have modern fences, wooden benches, lights, and safety equipment.

On the side of Platform 1 facing McKellar Street, there are 11 jacaranda trees. These trees might have been planted in the early 1900s.

Footbridge (1990)

The bridge that lets people walk between the two platforms was built in 1990. It's a common type of concrete bridge. It has plain metal railings to keep people safe.

Moveable items

Inside the station office, there is an old safe. It has the number 218 on it.

Potential archaeological features

There aren't any clear signs of older buildings on the site. Because of all the changes over the years, it's not likely that any parts of very old structures would still be there underground.

Condition

As of July 2, 2014:

• The Station Building & Residence are in good condition.
• The Ticket machine Shelter is in very good condition because it's quite new.
• Both Platforms are in good condition.
• The Footbridge is in good condition and doesn't have any major problems.

The outside of the station building looks just as it did. The inside is also mostly the same, even though many of its original decorations have been removed. It still has its original room layout and main parts like floors and ceilings.

Modifications and dates

• 1907 – A second platform was built.
• Around 1994 – A steel shelter was put on the second platform.
• 2008–2009 – The Station Master's home was fixed up. Lifts were added to both ends of the footbridge. A new steel roof was built along Platform 1.

Platforms and services

Transport links

Blue Mountains Transit runs three bus routes that pass by Emu Plains station. However, route 691 does not stop right outside the station.

• 688: From Emu Heights to Penrith station
• 689: From Leonay to Penrith station
• 691: From Mount Riverview to Penrith station - you need to get on or off at the Great Western Highway for this route.

Heritage listing

Emu Plains Railway Station is very important because it's an early station from 1884. It marks a key spot where the railway starts to climb the Blue Mountains. The station building from 1884 is a great example of a Victorian Gothic Revival style building. It shows how grand and well-built railway buildings were back then.

This building is one of only three in Sydney that still shows how station masters used to live in the same building as the station offices. Even though some other old structures are gone, the station is still an important landmark in the area. The old trees around the station also make it look special and help it stand out.

Emu Plains railway station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 because it met several important requirements:

• It shows how history unfolded in New South Wales.

The station is historically important because it's an early railway station from 1884. It's also a key location at the start of the Blue Mountains railway climb.

• It shows great design and building skill.

The station building is a wonderful example of Victorian Gothic Revival style. It has special features like brickwork, detailed designs on the gables, stone corners, old-style chimneys, and stone decorations.

• It has a special connection with the community.

This place helps the local community feel connected to their history and gives them a sense of belonging.

• It can teach us more about history.

The station can help us learn about Victorian-era station buildings that combined homes and offices. It also shows us about the old practice of railway workers living at the station.

• It is rare or uncommon.

The Emu Plains station building is one of only three in Sydney that combines a home and offices. It's also the only two-story example of this type in Sydney, making it very unique.

• It represents important types of historical places.

The station group is a good example of railway stations from the late Victorian period. It shows the quality of architecture and the growth of the railway system during that time. The Gothic Revival station building is an excellent example of its style.